Charles Fulcher began drawing in middle school, having a remarkable ability to draft details and arrange perspective.  He studied art professionally at Montana State University, Bozeman where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree.  Fulcher then worked for many years as a graphic design professional in California and Montana.  He is a quintessential scholar of the arts, having also developed a love of music and skill as a professional musician.  Fulcher enjoys every opportunity to express himself openly and creatively, through his art, design and music.

Many of Fulcher’s subjects are landscapes en plein air.  He enjoys the challenges that come with painting outdoors, from life, capturing the ever-changing color and light.  Fulcher’s style is unique – paintings all begin with a black canvas, vibrant colors produce form, remaining areas of black create powerful negative spaces, his trademark.  This technique allows him to focus on the details of light within the painting.  nspired by natural beauty, Fulcher translates emotion to canvas.  He believes colors should be bright and vivid, exposing bold hues and dramatic contrast, which allow his paintings to come to life.  His work has been described as fresh and full of energy.

Fulcher was inspired by many different artists throughout time, from early artists like Impressionist Van Gogh for his use of bold colors, and the Canadian Group of Seven for their unique landscape compositions.  Then to contemporaries like Neil Paterson, of Canada, for his appreciation of the beauty of one-hundred percent color.  Mostly, Fulcher was inspired to paint in this style of bold color and composition because it was the way he felt most comfortable.  Not all of his contemporaries in painting easily understand his way.  However, Fulcher has followed his own compass, blazing his own artistic path, unencumbered by boundaries, creating a unique and identifiable, style.

Supporting the arts community is always a goal for Fulcher.  He has been a member of the Ad Club of the Great Falls Advertising Federation for the past fifteen years, and served as the organization’s President.  The Club hosts the annual C.M. Russell Art Auction.  This affiliation and experience has given him the opportunity to meet and learn from the many “Russell” artists throughout the years.

In March of 2006 Charles Fulcher won the Juror’s Ralph “Tuffy” Berg Award for Best Aspiring Artist at the C.M. Russell Auction in Great Falls, Montana.  Fulcher’s paintings are found in important private and public collections nationwide.

Written by Curtis Tierney